1 The value which God, puts upon love and
unity: the effects of a true charity,
8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer.
HE that has the love that is in
Christ, let him keep the
commandments of Christ.
2 For who is able to express the
obligation of the love of God?
What man is sufficient to declare,
and is fitting, the excellency of its
beauty?
3 The height to which charity
leads, is inexpressible.
4 Charity unites us to God;
charity covers the multitude of
sins: charity endures all things;
is long-suffering in all things.
5 There is nothing base and
sordid in charity: charity lifts not
itself up above others; admits of
no divisions; is not seditious; but
does all things in peace and concord.
6 By charity were all the elect of
God made perfect: Without it nothing
is pleasing and acceptable in the
sight of God.
7 Through charity did the Lord
join us into himself; whilst for
the love that he bore towards us,
our Lord Jesus Christ gave his
own blood for us, by the will of
God; his flesh for our flesh; his
soul for our souls.
8 Ye see, beloved, how great
and wonderful a thing charity is;
and how that no expressions are
sufficient to declare its perfection.
9 But who is fit to be found in
it? Even such only as God shall
vouchsafe to make so.
10 Let us therefore pray to him,
and beseech him, that we may be
worthy of it; that so we may live
in charity; being unblameable,
without human propensities,
without respect of persons.
11 All the ages of the world,
from Adam, even unto this day,
are passed away; but they who
have been made perfect in love,
have by the grace of God obtained
a place among the righteous; and
shall be made manifest in the
judgment of the kingdom of Christ.
12 For it is written, Enter into
thy chambers for a little space, till
my anger and indignation shall
pass away: And I will remember
the good day, and, will raise you
up out of your graves.
13 Happy then shall we be,
beloved, if we shall have fulfilled
the commandments of God, in the
unity of love; that so, through
love, our sins may be forgiven us.
14 For so it is written, Blessed
are they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose
mouth there is no guile.
15 Now this blessing is fulfilled
in those who are chosen by God
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to
whom be glory for ever and ever,
Amen.